Letter to the editor: Keep the garden

Keep the garden

I was troubled to learn recently that the New Jersey Department of Treasury ordered the Camden Children's Garden to remove all assets and vacate a large parcel of its land adjacent to Adventure Aquarium on the Camden Waterfront within two months' time in order for the aquarium to possibly expand.

It is interesting to note that Peter Herschend, owner of Herschend Family Entertainment and Adventure Aquarium, has long been a big donor to the Republican National Committee. He has also donated tens of thousands of dollars to the American Crossroads Political Action Committee. This has been aggressively pitched to donors by Karl Rove and former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie.

American Crossroads was involved in several of the highest contested elections in the country. The state agency that is pushing for the eviction of the garden is currently led by the Christie administration.

I guess Herschend is ready to cash in on his investment now?

The Camden Children's Garden contributes so much to city residents by employing people, educating children, fighting obesity and working with stakeholders in the neighborhoods to establish community gardens. The list of success stories and accolades for this organization is endless.

The aquarium hires a low number of city residents and pays no taxes; instead, it has a mere 50-cent ticket surcharge on each ticket. Besides, how many local residents and families can even afford to step into the place?

If we are talking economics, the children's garden outweighs any aquarium expansion in terms of investment in our city.

ANDREW ADAMS

Camden

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Letter to the editor: Keep the garden

I was troubled to learn recently that the New Jersey Department of Treasury ordered the Camden Children's Garden to remove all assets and vacate a large parcel of its land adjacent to Adventure